Articulated figural toy and actuator



ct. 29, 1940. A. R. wSiTACIQN 2,219,854

ARTICULATED FIGURAL TOY AND ACTUATOR Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Oct. 29, 1940 ARTICULATED FIGURAL TOY AND ACTUATOR Filed May 1-3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvrgmorz 'A'R'VISITACION.

LUM/zm ATTORNEY.

R. VISITACION 2,219,854

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES ARTICULATED FIGURAL 'roY AND 1 ACTUATOR Aniceto R. Visitacion, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to H. H. Helbush,

County, Calif.

Los 'Angeles Application May 13, 1939, Serial No. 273,562

' 5 Claims. (01. 46-138) This invention relates to toys and more specifically to articulated figure toys in which the elements of the figure are caused to move grotesquely.

An object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character having a support, and so arranged that its articulated limbs are free to move in various directions.

A further feature is in the provision of means to impart rythmic movement to the figure, whereby the action of the limbs may be caused to closely similate the movements of dancing a jig.

Another purpose is to produce an articulated figure toy having a novel actuating device for manual operation, capable-of controlling the action of the figure in timed musical sequence.

These objects are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of simple parts, hereinafter described and shown in the annexed drawings, forming part of this disclosure, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a complete embodiment of the toy.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a modification in the toy construction.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing a further modified form of the toy.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the toy shown in Figure 5, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure '1 is a full front elevational view of the same.

Figure 8 is a partial plan view of one form of toy support base.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another, simpler form of support.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the numeral I5 designates in general a support plate preferably shaped in the profile of a violin, having a level upper surface and a neck It extending at the rear; opposed recesses I! in the side edges of the support afford a convenient hand hold.

As shown in Figure l, a platform I8 is secured centrally on support I5, rearward of which are opposed brackets I9, spaced slightly apart and. containing registering transverse guide openings 20.

A spring wire 2I is held to the neck I6 by hasps 22, the wire bent upward, as at 23, and then to extend parallel and above the neck, as at 24, to

pass freely between the spaced brackets, thereafter turned upwardly and its end engaged in the lower portion of the body 25 of an arcrobatic toy figure to support the same in an upright position.

Pivoted to the body 25 are the upper elements 26 of legs 21 articulated, as at 28, thereto, and provided-with feet 29, positioned and adapted to make tap contact with the platform. I8.

At points thereabove are pivoted to the body 25, the upper elements 30 of arms 3I articulated, as at 32, and terminating in, hands 33, one of which may be supplied with a bell 34 and the other with a striker 35. v T

A cymbal 36 may be carried on, the rear portion of the body and at its top is a spring 31 carrying a head 38, free to sway in anydirection.

The-foregoing is descriptive only of any preferred form of grotesque toy, except in the manner of its support, and method of communicating I motion, which follows. v 1

An actuator bar 40, having a finger grip head M, and of considerable length, is suited to pass through the guide openings 20 in the brackets I9, and, on the upper surface of the bar are a row of serrations 42 on which the spring wire element 24 makes contact as the bar is moved reciprocatively.

It will now be seen that as the actuator bar is moved linearly, the spring wire support 24 will be caused to fluctuate limitedly in accordance with the rapidity of bar movement, causing agitation of the figural toy so that its feet may make contact with the platform I8 and its hands cause the bell to give forth sound, while the spring supported head moves involuntarily.

The head 38 has an extension ,45 passing through a slot in the upper portion of the body 25 and pivoted therein by a pin 46. Attached to the extension 45 is a weight 25 normally holding the head erect; also attached to the extension 45 is another pin, crossing the pin 46, which carries the arm elements 30.

A spring wire 48 is looped intermediate its length so that one portion 49 passes below the support I6, the loop being securely held by a bracket 50 fixed in the rear portion of the support.

The wire 49 passes through a'guide 5| and is upturned at its end 52 to carry the platform I8, thus having a limited amount of vertical motion.

The wire 48 also passes through the upper portion of the same guide, thereafter being upturned and fixed at its end in the body 25, thereby adding variety to the action of the toy by the use of a double edged actuator bar 55 having a handle 56 and opposed rows of teeth 5'l58, respectively upper and lower, the former to actuate the wire 48 and the latter, the lower wire 49.

In addition, a sounding box 59 may be secured to the under side of the support, as seen best in Figures 2 and 5, to increase the clatter of the feet upon the platform.

Figures 6 and 7 show a single spring wire 60 attached to the under side of the support 15, the wire being bent sharply upward, as at 6|, within the bracket 62, and thence connected to a body provided with limbs as before described.

These limbs are carried at the ends of helical.

springs 63 set in the body, as is also the throat spring 64, supporting the head '65.

The body is supported by a. rod 66, its lower, attenuated end attached to the wire 60Bl,

which is vibrated by a toothed actuator .bar 40.

guided, in the bracket 62, and operated in the manner described.

In Figure 9 the support plate I5 is shown as embellished on its upper surface, as at 67, and in Figure 10, a plain support plate is shown as provided with a spring wire 68 at its under side, bent to extend upright at 69 to receive and support whatever figure may be preferred.

.In operation, the support may be held by one hand and the actuator bar moved by the other, the results attained depending on the speed of operation.

The shape and distance apart of the teeth 42 or 51-58 may be varied at will and the size and proportions of the figures likewise.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A figural toy comprising a platform having a lengthy rear extension, 2. body having articulated limbs, a spring support fixed at its outer end on said extension and on which said body is mounted in an upright position, and an actuator bar having an undulating edge on which said support makes contact, adjacent said body, said bar being manually operable transversely of said platform to cause actuation of said body.

2. In combination with a base plate and a figural toy having a body provided with articulated limbs, a spring wire fixed at one end on said plate and at the other end in said body, and a manually movable serrated bar adapted to actuate said spring adjacent the body.

3. In combination with a base plate and a figural toy having a body provided with articu- .lated limbs, carrying sound producing devices, a spring wire fixed at one end on said plate and its free end supporting said body, a platform on said plate below said body, brackets on said plate between which said spring wire passes, and a toothed transverse actuator bar guided by said brackets on which said wire makes contact.

4. In combination with a base plate and a figural toy having a. body provided with articulated limbs, carrying sound producing devices, a spring wire fixed at one end of said plate and its free end supporting said body, a platform on said plate below said body, plate between which said spring wire passes, a sound intensifying means on said plate below said figural toy, and means guided by said brackets to raise and lower said wire intermittently.

5. In a movable figure toy, a base plate havbrackets on said ing an extending arm, a spring fixed on said arm,

said spring having a part spaced parallel above said plate and an upturned end, a toy body fixed on the raised end of said spring, articulated limbs on said body including feet, a platform on said plate contactable by said feet, an actuator bar movable transversely over said plate, and teeth on said bar to engage said spring to transmit reciprocal motion to said toy body.

ANICETO R. VISITACION. 

